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Please find a short article by Debra Stanislawski about Photography below.
Photography is art. It is one which vanishes rapidly with the influx of do-it-oneself mobile phone or digital photography. Most people can now be their own self-appointed photographers, often electing to default to what is immediately available rather than seeking out skills which can take years to hone.
National Geographic and BBC programmes such as those incorporating the voice of Sir David Attenborough are renowned for their imagery. It may just be those images and the skill of the photographers and videographers which draw in the viewers.
To the disappointment of purists, it might be quick fire videography and CGI, which dominate the future. The very modes of viewing made popular by the likes of TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram fill in what used to be ‘free’ time.
Nonetheless, it is probable that those with a penchant for vintage and artistic skill will continue to seek out photography in its purest form. It is through this art form that life’s reflections will continue to find favour with our clientele as black and white photography, photojournalism, and nature shots continue to fare well at auction. Moreover, head shots, baby, and wedding photographers do appear to retain their high demand.
There are distinct types of photographic prints including chromogenic prints, silver prints, lambda, and pigment print which use different chemicals which may include some or none of the following: polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, cellulose, and albumen in the processing of the prints. Dyes may be organic; others are not. Some methods consider the environment; others have had a clear (and often ignored) detrimental impact on the earth and even its people (where slaves collected the minerals and chemicals previously perceived necessary to develop photographs).
In any event, photography does still sell, and our clients keep them in their home and have bought them at auction. The highest valued photograph sold at auction was 'Le Violon d ‘Ingres’ in 2022, selling for £9.8 million, which was more than twice its estimate. Though with photography, the same photographer may have one shot that sells for a great sum whilst the others sell for much less. Therefore, before buying artwork, it is imperative to look out for key details such as: the number of prints, the context at the time of making, the popularity of the artist, and general trends.
It may be worth considering the following photographers who have fared well professionally in the last years prior to making a purchase.
1. Cindy Sherman
Her works can sell at auction for hundreds of thousands of pounds and her works have made it to the walls of Christie’s, a step towards prominence indeed. Untitled #94 (1981) sold for over £643,000 with buyer’s premium just this month. This was 161% more than the high end of the estimate.
2. Man Ray
'Le Violon d ‘Ingres’ was the most expensive photograph ever sold at auction at £9.8 million in 2022. It is a surrealist image of Kiki de Montparnasse with f-shaped sound holes comparable to a violin’s shape. This photograph sold at a particularly high price because it was a print made from the original negatives. Man Ray had an interest in the painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and the photograph paid homage to the artist’s style of painting nudes and his hobby of violin playing.
3. Annie Leibovitz
She may be best known for her portraiture. What separates her from other photographers is the art that she creates in the process. It is photojournalism taken to the next level.
She photographed Queen Elizabeth II and produced the below photograph which is probably one of the more austere images of the late Queen and which sold for £28,000 at auction. She has also taken photographs of other well-known personalities including the one below of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, which was on the cover of Rolling Stone.
4. Andreas Gursky
His highest selling works are landscapes. These include – Rhine II – a photograph of the Rhine River between fields. Images detracting from the image, according to the photographer, (such as dog walkers) were removed digitally.
5. Gilbert & George
The pair show their work at Tate.
They have said that they make art ‘to confront people.’
Gobs (1988) (below) is one of their better-known works.
It sold for over £73,000 with buyer’s premium at auction this year.
6. Henri Cartier- Bresson
He was a photographer born in France who documented his travels with photography. One of his works below depicted daily life around the Berlin Wall.
7. Martin Parr
He is an English photographer.
His works tend more towards pops of bold colours such as reds, pinks, and blues.
Quastel Associates’ valuers often view photographs whilst valuing in high-net-worth clients’ homes. Each client may have a different reason for making the purchase. However, the most common reasons for such purchases consider the following three points. Firstly, they can be reasonably priced, therefore more accessible. Secondly, photography is an art form that is becomingly increasingly endangered and an art form that clients appreciate. Finally, photographs work in modern homes because they often have clean lines which suit the décor.
Should you require a valuation, please feel free to contact Quastel Associates so that we may find the best valuer for your needs.
